Garrett Stubbs was born in California and plays in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies. Yet in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he is wearing the jersey of Team Israel. Many fans quickly asked the same question: why is an American catcher representing Israel in an international tournament? The answer lies in Garrett Stubbs’ family roots. The 31-year-old catcher was raised in a Jewish household and has strong ties to Jewish culture through his mother’s side of the family. Because of these roots, he qualifies to represent Israel under the tournament’s eligibility rules.Stubbs, who first reached MLB with the Houston Astros in 2019, has spoken openly about how meaningful this experience is for him. The World Baseball Classic brings two important things for the Phillies catcher. He uses this opportunity to honor his heritage while he tells his story to fans from different countries. Stubbs supports Team Israel during the tournament by playing against top baseball countries while he showcases his personal history and identity.
Garrett Stubbs explains his Jewish heritage and why he represents Israel in the World Baseball Classic
Garrett Stubbs may be American by birth, but his Jewish heritage makes him eligible to play for Israel in international baseball. Stubbs was born and raised in San Diego, California. His mother, Marti Gellens-Stubbs, raised him in a Jewish household. He even had a bar mitzvah while growing up. Because of this background, Stubbs qualifies for Israeli citizenship through Israel’s “Law of Return,” which allows people with Jewish heritage to claim citizenship.The rules of the World Baseball Classic allow players to represent countries they are eligible for, even if they do not currently hold citizenship. That rule opened the door for Stubbs to join Team Israel. For Stubbs, the chance to play for Israel is about more than eligibility rules. It is about pride in his family history.His brother, C.J. Stubbs, who plays in the minor leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, is also on Team Israel’s roster for the tournament. The two brothers sharing the same national team has made the experience even more special. Stubbs also spoke about the emotional meaning of representing Israel during a tense global moment. In an interview with journalist Alexander Peterman from the The Palm Beach Post on March 3, the Phillies catcher shared his thoughts.“Baseball brings people together,” Stubbs said. “It has a way of doing that. To be able to be a part of that, especially in the climate that we’re in right now, it’s pretty special to have that opportunity.” On the field, Team Israel has already faced a tough challenge in the tournament. In their opening game, they played against powerhouse Venezuela national baseball team and lost 11-3 after struggling to slow down Venezuela’s powerful lineup.Their next matchup will be against the Nicaragua national baseball team, a game that could be very important for both teams as they try to stay alive in the tournament. For Stubbs, though, the tournament means more than just wins and losses. It is a rare chance to celebrate his heritage, play alongside his brother, and bring people together through baseball.
